Harry Kupsick was awarded the Purple Heart and the WWI Victory Medal 
Harry Kupsick's grave site in the Suresnes American Cemetery in Paris. Born:
Died: Sept. 13, 1918
Married: No
Children: None
Harry Kupsick was killed while serving in World War I. His name is listed on the World War I Veterans memorial at the corner of Church and River streets.
TO MY UNCLE HARRY KUPSICK WHOM I NEVER KNEW
Harry came to Saranac Lake from Latvia on the S.S. Lusitania in June 1910 with his mother Mary and brothers Robert and Jack and sister Gertrude. His father was already settled here and they lived at 18 Jenkins Street then eventually moved to 2 Park Avenue. It is there that Mary opened up the first kosher “cottage” for people suffering from TB.
Harry became a fruit produce dealer and some time during WWI enrolled in the Army on November 1917 at Camp Laphant. He served in Co. D. 307th Regiment and was gassed in France and died Sept. 13, 1918 - two months before the Armistice.
He was in the Oise-Ainse offensive pursuing German forces as they withdrew toward the Aisne River, which went on for 2 months. 1,250 soldiers were either wounded, died of their wounds or were outright killed. Harry is buried in the Suresnes American Cemetery 4 miles west of the center of Paris. The cemetery was dedicated by President Woodrow Wilson during Memorial Day ceremonies of 1919. The grave is marked by a headstone of white marble with name, rank, organization and date of his death.
Upon a visit to Saranac Lake in 1999, I was proud to visit the WWI Memorial and to see Harry’s name - sadly with a star next to it.
I feel very sad when I think of how few years he had to enjoy America and its future opportunities.
With gratitude for his sacrifice - Barbara Kupsick Klion April 2010
In September 2013 [sic: probably 2012], my husband and I visited Paris and decided to take a day off and visit the cemetery where Harry is buried. We took a suburban train for a half-hour trip, climbed a steep hill and arrived. We were greeted by the director and, because no other visitors came that morning, we spent four hours with him, learning about the battles that were taking place around the time of Harry's death in France, watched old preserved Signal Corps movies on You Tube, learned about the history of the cemetery and the area, laid a beautiful turquoise stone on his gravestone, toured the rest of the beautiful and well-groomed cemetery, took many pictures to show the family and left with a sense of great peace that Harry was finally remembered in person.
Harry Kupsick's grave site in the Suresnes American Cemetery in Paris, September, 2012. Courtesy of Barbara Klion. 
The gates of the Suresnes American Cemetery in Paris, September, 2012. Courtesy of Barbara Klion.
